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Getting Readier

Aug7

Safari clothes

Every day we are closer to Zambia. We read incessantly, surf the web for hours, gleaning any aspect from the words, pictures and videos. Batteries are charged. Bags are loosely packed with clothing, with anything blue weeded out of the stacks. (We hear that tsetse flies like blue.) Soccer balls and pumps are ordered – I pick them up next week.

With the wonders of electronic communications, we are in touch with some of our hosts along the way: what can we bring? Are there local schools or clinics you support? How can we help? Of course, not all contacts are altruistic: can we go fishing? Can we go walking with your guides? Just giving our hosts some information (or warning!) about our interests for our upcoming visit.

A scent on a breeze, we are anxious to catch the essence of Zambia. We can’t wait to be on our way!

Choosing a Rental and Outfitter

Aug6

DSCF3504We have no idea. This is our experience, not our advice: We surfed the web, read blogs, and ended up with Safari Drive. Were they perfect? No. Were they very good? Yes. We paid approximately $300 per day for the vehicle. The Land Rover we rented ended up being very low mileage (14000 km before we put another 2000 on it), outfitted for comfortable camping including about 3-5 days of basic provisions (you’ll still need to shop), tent, table, chairs, bedding, all the ‘stuff,’ GPS, and satellite phone. Safari Drive also offered advice, made reservations, provided maps, personally helped us work out the itinerary, gave us an in-country briefing on the vehicle, smiled and waved goodbye as we ground the gears, slipped the clutch, and disappeared into the dust. We ran into people who paid half as much but didn’t have the support, gear, sat phone, planning, or GPS. We also ran into a rental vehicle that had broken down and been abandoned, a vacation ruined. We were glad to pay more. But obviously, for those more daring, there are bargain vehicles to be found that could save thousands if it works out well.